Latest news with #CommunityConversations
Zawya
29-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Stability spurs agricultural boom along Central Equatoria's main supply corridor
Abawu Lorna operates a modest stall at one of the bustling markets in Aru Junction, a lively town in Central Equatoria. As the breadwinner, she is taking care of her family, including her unemployed husband, and the cost of sending her five children to school. While the financial burden is heavy, Abawu's business is one of many benefiting from an increase in local produce from nearby farms. "We used to buy all commodities from Uganda, but since farmers have improved production here, we are now sourcing locally at a cheaper price." Her story is one of the many that Radio Miraya, operated by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, is spotlighting as it focuses on the immense challenges facing the world's newest nation, including an economic crisis, rising conflict, and a stalled peace deal. Strategically located along one of the busiest highways, Aru Junction links the capital Juba to Uganda, making it the main supply route for commodities, ranging from food to building materials. The steady stream of travelers brings brisk business opportunities, particularly benefitting farmers. Central Equatoria's climate, marked by a distinct long rainy season stretching from April to November, makes it possible for farmers to cultivate and harvest twice a year. Located on the plains of this region, Aru Junction's fertile soil makes tilling the land particularly lucrative. But for farmers, the relative peace and stability in this area is just as important. 'When there is enough food, there is no violence,' says community leader, Sultan Isaac Ladu Sarafino, speaking on Radio Miraya's Community Conversations programme. Sarafino tells the audience that, despite challenges such as limited access to capital, Aru Junction farmers can make the most of their location and the peace it offers to cultivate both for subsistence and market sale. The stability at Aru Junction is also enticing people who previously left the area to return. Betty Ropani, who fled to Uganda when conflict broke out in her village in Yei in 2016, has resettled in Aru Junction. Using land allocated to her by local authorities, she now grows maize and tomatoes. She believes a small loan could significantly boost the gains she is already realizing from cultivation. 'I want to acquire more land so that I can support my children still in Uganda,' says the mother of four. Betty was among a group of residents who gathered at the Aru Junction Administration office for a community outreach event hosted by UNMISS. The residents are concerned about violence in other parts of the state. 'We want to connect with other areas and trade there,' remarked one resident, 'But, for now, we are separated by insecurity.' The Boma Administrator echoes the need for strengthened security and acknowledges the impact of Nepalese peacekeepers who regularly patrol the area. 'Your presence in this area gives us confidence. We would like to see more of this across the state, so we can open trade corridors for our farmers and traders,' says Andama Zakeyo Hussein. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Yahoo
Albany community members host 'Community Conversations' in partnership with right-wing group Our America
ALBANY – Crime, education and the need for community mentorship of youths were discussed and debated for two hours at the first session of 'Community Conversations,' hosted by Albany native and entrepreneur Terence Fowler in partnership with This is Our America, a national conservative organization. About 30 community members filled a small fraction of the seats at Albany Technical College's Logistics Education Center Auditorium. They heard from different black, male community members who have taken on leadership and youth mentorship roles within Albany:Travis Luke, an Albany native and former gang member, who after spending time in prison returned to Albany to be a mentor for youths, steering them away from the life he lived as a young man. He's also published the book, 'Product of my Environment.'Antonio Screen, a pastor at Alive Center and businessman who was a 2023 Albany Mayoral candidate and Georgia House District 153 candidate in 2016. Adam Inyang, the owner of E-Zee Copy, an Albany printing service, local activist, and candidate for Albany City Commission District 2. Adam Inyang, Antonio Screen and Travis Luke made up the panel conversation at Monday night's meeting. Staff Photo: Lucille LanniganKing Randall, the founder of The 'X' for Boys preparatory school, served as the event's keynote speaker. The school was founded with a mission to teach boys about manhood, masculinity, collaboration and how to be protectors and providers for their communities. At his school, Randall said he teaches male youths skills like automotive repair and general contracting and helped them improve their school grades and reading comprehension. Monday night he addressed some of the lesser-known work of clothing and feeding youths, teaching them proper sanitary habits and holding parents accountable in fostering the development they receive at his preparatory school back at home. The group of speakers, along with attendees, discussed actual crime vs. the perception of crime in Albany. Inyang talked about how most of Albany's crime is property crime – theft and burglaries – despite the emphasis being placed on gang violence. Screen said there was a negative perception surrounding Albany and its crime that wasn't necessarily true. 'If we're going to change that, we have to start changing our language … changing what we say about our own city,' he said. Luke said he's more concerned about the potential of crime, pointing out that more youths these days have access to guns and may feel driven to turn to them because of surrounding factors like poor education and desensitization to violence. He said youths are witnessing death at young ages and never healing from or processing it. 'We're leaning on policing, politicking and praying,' Luke said. 'It's not going to work. We're going to have to put intervention into place. We have to be able to partner … to redirect those kids. Fowler and the group called on a younger generation of men to come together to mentor male youths in the city. All of the speakers are already doing this work but agreed that they needed more support from the older generation of leaders as well as city and school officials. 'We need young, vibrant men in the Albany community that's willing to take the reins, get at least one other son that's not their son, and try to show them the way,' he said. Community members from across the city were engaged in the conversation. A.J. Parker, an Albany resident who works with NAMI Albany and in youth mentorship, said she attends a lot of meetings like this throughout the city but rarely sees change. 'This place should be full,' she said. 'In order to get people to come, you have to keep putting things out.' Fowler said he hopes to have these community discussions once or twice a month. He said it's important that behind these discussions, the group forms direct action plans. He stressed the need for a younger generation to take the reins of mentorship, addressing the modern needs of today's youth in Albany – but he doesn't want to completely cut older generations out of the conversation. He said he wants everyone to work together. 'The ultimate goal is unity,' he said. Fowler's co-host, Carli Eli, from This is Our America was not present at Monday night's meeting. Eli is the Georgia Chairwoman for the Republican National Hispanic Assembly and was a member of the Latino Americans for Trump coalition. There was no mention to attendees of the organization's part in these meetings. What is This is Our America? The This is Our America organization's site reads that the organization's mission is to build a broad, diverse coalition of people who support 'timeless American values' of equal opportunity, mutual respect and freedom of expression. It lists key issues like criminal justice reform, increased police funding, cost of living, freedom of thought and voter integrity. Our America's president is Christian Robey, a long-time conservative activist who has spent more than a decade working for the far-right Media Research Center, which broadcasts conservative values, culture, politics and exposes 'liberal media bias.' An investigation from the FWIW newsletter, which tracks digital spending, strategy and trends in U.S. elections, showed This is Our America to be a public-facing brand for an organization called American Movement, which made significant program expenditures to a 'targeted persuadable voter focus group.' Tax documents obtained for this investigation list the American Movement as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit. These politically active nonprofits are generally under no legal obligation to disclose donors and raise funds with the purpose of influencing elections. Fowler said he initially connected with the group through Eli, who is a friend. He said the organization wanted to be a part of the conversations. He said that, while a Republican himself, he doesn't fully align with the organization's narrative and isn't sure if they'll have a role in future meetings. 'I just want it to be Albany-centric,' Fowler said.
Zawya
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
New United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)-hosted Community Conversations radio show seeks to enhance civic and political space in South Sudan
'Community Conversations is one of the critical pillars for bridging the gap and bringing everyone together for diverse views to be heard, understood and appreciated.' Speaking at the launch of a new platform promoting grassroots engagement on the key issues confronting South Sudan, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Peace Building, Pia Philip Michael, stressed the importance of enabling diverse communities to communicate in an inclusive and interactive environment. The Community Conversations show is a new programme hosted by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan's Radio Miraya network, which is dedicated to reaching large, diverse and remote audiences across the country with information of importance and messages of peace. 'Miraya reaches even the most isolated corners of the country and has become more than just a medium of entertainment. It is a lifeline that informs, educates, and unites,' said Chief of Radio Miraya, Ratomir Petrovic. 'The Community Conversations show gives communities a voice, an opportunity to freely express their views on issues that are close to their hearts and affect their day to day lives.' As the most powerful tool for reaching audiences in a country where illiteracy rates are high and internet penetration is poor, this radio-based initiative provides an important opportunity for those who are often marginalized, including youth and women, to participate in important discussions on community wellbeing, governance, and peacebuilding. 'Community Conversations is critical because it is a platform to strengthen and promote inclusion: inclusion of ideas, inclusion of views and thoughts, so that the people of South Sudan have a common agenda of building the country and, also, respecting each other's opinions,' said Pia Philip Michael. The inclusive approach was exemplified by the event itself which featured vibrant cultural performances, including from the Kresh and Avukaya minority tribes. Some participants remarked that, while they had heard of these tribes, they had never encountered them in person or experienced their traditional dance. The initiative is all about building understanding and trust, promoting cultural diversity and encouraging people to embrace unity, build a sense of nationhood and collective movement for peace. 'Peace cannot be realized by force. It's not by use of arms, but it is by understanding,' said the Undersecretary for the Ministry of Information, Dr. Yath Awan Yath. 'It is for me and you to stand up for peace, to forgive one another, to say no to revenge, to hear other people's opinion, to use dialogue as a means of resolving our differences. That's when development, economic growth, our children going to school, food in abundance, will be realized in South Sudan.' The program, led by UNMISS' Community Outreach Unit, will air three times a week as part of a broader communications campaign under the theme 'Peace Begins with Me' that seeks to enhance the political and civic space in South Sudan. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
